East Falls Forward: Coming Around Again

Another year, another reboot. Say hello to the new East Falls Forward, our neighborhood’s year-old zoning body aimed at business and development. Recap from Thursday January 21st’s meeting with pics, video, and links for online participation on key issues affecting our streetscape and quality of life.

This was the most un-meeting meeting ever: we all sat around a table, chatting for the most part. There was beer and popcorn, the sound of kids playing in the background. Less than 20 of us gathered, mostly familiar faces from other meetings, including Bill Epstein (EFCC president) and Gina Snyder (EFDC director).

Some chatting, then we got down to business. Super-short summary:

For new president Felcite Moorman, East Falls Forward’s #1 priority is zoning and new development. After that, she feels the organization should welcome new neighbors & reach out to new businesses we want to see here,

Next month’s meeting will be a social mixer for the neighborhood (Thursday February 18, 6:30 pm, BuLogics on Midvale),

Because I am personally involved with these people, I figure I’ll give you my completely-biased run-down with links to articles I’ve written about efforts we’ve all worked on together (and of course you can read the candidate’s own “Statements of Purpose” on EFF’s website).

Hopefully that’ll provide a good picture of the new officers, but really, if you wanna know these people just show up at a meeting and say hi. None of them are stuffy folks, on any level.

Felicite Moorman’s all about community — in the (almost) 2 years we’ve known her, she’s rescued lost dogs, rebuilt a family home, organized local clean-ups, hosted scouting events… A big part of her job as CEO of a tech firm is to connect engineers and designers of diverse talents (and big egos) on interesting projects, and get them to collaborate productively.

I’m curious (and optimistic) to see this modern skill set focused locally, at the head of a recognized community group.

Goes without saying he will be helpful figuring out an online voting system, and organizing our voice & presence online.

Steve Fillmore — what can I say? Together, we’ve been growing East Falls Local since Fall 2014 because we saw a need for real community news here. We already go to meetings and do recaps, why not make it official? Big on transparency, Steve’ll be creating an online database of EFF files, documents, and photographs, plus working towards providing clearer meeting video (for all local public meetings, if possible).

Steve sees many opportunities to better inform and involve East Fallsers on all kinds of important local concerns. Plus I can totally vouch for him! 🙂

**MEETING RECAP WITH VIDEO**

Starting off as new chair, Felicite underscored EFF’s mission, which is “to create an inclusive organization for perhaps disenfranchised voices in the community, maybe those who hadn’t been specifically welcomed or didn’t feel welcomed.” With EFF, she sees opportunity for collaboration between all organizations.

“We’re here to make this community everything it can be with as many people who are willing to do it as possible, collaborating with as many organizations as we can participate with.”

EFDC, EFBA, EFCC members — everyone is welcome to join and even lead any of East Falls Forward’s efforts! Felicite embraces cooperation, and appreciates every opportunity for more volunteers & voices. Three key points:

Zoning is the Number One Most Important Thing Felicite would love to see some additional voices coming forward with their thoughts & ideas about what this community grows into. “Because we cannot make it *not* grow — that’s not gonna happen — so what does it grow into? How do we foster that as a community?”

Next a welcoming committee to reach out to new families who move here, introduce them to the cool stuff in our neighborhood, maybe something with maps and local business listings, and so forth. Events such as beautification projects and the Bike Race Block party could present opportunities for us to work together as a community. Perhaps a family picnic, or a pack walk, or something for kids?

Finally, business outreach too. Felicite would like to target businesses that are absent here. She’s got a list of 50 of the fastest-growing, most stable franchises in the US — she’d like to start there, aim for maybe La Colombe or a local bakery. A recent survey (still going on, please *TAKE IT* if you haven’t already, thanks!!) of 250+ East Fallsers listed coffee shop, takeout beer, and grocery as the top three desired local businesses.

Felicite went on to propose a social mixer for EFF’s next meeting February 18th, “if anything comes up of course we can address it” but otherwise let’s not get bogged down with a big giant agenda before we’ve all had a chance to get to know each other.

Beer, popcorn, friendly introductions? Does that sound nice?

No sooner had we all agreed this was a fine idea, than Gina Snyder (director of EFDC) piped up from the other end of the table, “Uh… guys… I think we already have something for the agenda…” Seems Grasso will be presenting for East Falls zoning variances next month. Yes, THAT Grasso: the long-awaited development of the old Rivage site at Calumet and Kelly Drive.

(2/7/16 — ed NOTE: GRASSO WILL NOT BE PRESENTING THIS MONTH! Although Bill & Gina seemed to think Grasso would be presenting at February’s zoning meeting, EFCC has indicated that might not happen, we’ll need to wait till they post their agenda Feb 1st. Also, the EFCC reeeeeally hates it when you blab about who might be coming to meetings before they’ve officially announced it).

Gina explained that East Falls Forward is a Registered Community Organization in the city of Philadelphia, and developers like David Grassomust by lawpresent to EFF for zoning variances, same as they do for EFCC (the other RCO in town). The most logical solution would be for both organizations to co-host February’s zoning meeting (which happened last Fall when PhillyU presented their 30 year plan).

Then the question would be what would be the decision-making process after that meeting in order to weigh in as an RCO. Felicite stressed the importance of clarifying policies and voting procedures publicly online as soon as possible (and also provide in print). Especially the process of how we come to a decision as a group.

Gina also chimed in about the Bike Race Block Party, which has been going since 2002, and is pretty much a hands-off event now with the Philly Bike Race people doing most of the work. They advertise, they put down porta potties, they set up a “Sprint Zone” with a tent, music, and announcer, etc. It’d be the perfect event to try out new collaborations between community organizations.

Finally, Felicite took a moment at the end of the meeting to address why she’s putting time and effort into East Falls Forward: while she expressed optimism for the new officers in our Community Council, she feels there’s still a need for another organization to make sure that voices like hers “who were disrespected” will feel welcome and included, instead. In her own words:

“Bill and I have worked together for a very long time. He was integral to me getting that property. He helped walk me thru the process. I don’t think that Bill is necessarily representative of the past community council and I feel that this organization is very much a reaction to it. I don’t think the legitimacy of this organization… it has yet to come to fruition.

“I don’t think that we’re doing all we can yet… After all of the work that went into creating this, to drop this reaction… to prior Community Council leadership, it would be a disservice to all of the work that they did. So I’m going to continue it for that reason. If we determine after a year that there’s no reason for this organization, so be it.”

“I want to have an inclusive meeting. I want to have people sit down and talk to each other like this.”

Long-time Division Street resident Linda Norris chimed in, “Everybody feel valued, and that what you have to say is important.”

Another point we could all agree upon.

SO WHADDAYA SAY?! Whether we like it or not, new changes are heading our way. Instead of reacting against the tide at every turn, let’s work on channeling it towards benefits for all neighbors.

East Falls has a choice now for zoning issues and development discussions. Join East Falls Forward for a front-row seat to big changes underway in our area. Come have a say in how our neighborhood grows!

8 Comments

Mayre Trice Keeling

This is an extremely exciting model for communities in the future, and now. I would like to follow your community and start something like this in my community, or with one of my special interest groups.
Thank you for sharing such a bright spot on any map today.
Mayre

Steve Fillmore

Hey Morgan: No need to re-up. There’s approximately 70 members, but there are plenty more neighbors, businesses, and developers we’ll be reaching out to in 2016. We’ve got some big ideas, but are always interested in hearing from as many people as possible. How about you? Any suggestions for getting people involved?

MorganB

Also, use Nextdoor.com as a place to discuss/debate. Neighborhood “policy” discussion should be mainly online, and in-person meetings should be more about putting faces to the names you see online (and also just making friends).

That’s what I think, for what it’s worth.

Steve Fillmore

Great stuff! Thanks Morgan. Hope to see ya at next EFF meeting to discuss further. (Thurs Feb 18 6:30-7:30 at BuLogics 3721 Midvale.) BTW, it’s a happy hour/social so none of that pesky CMX designation stuff (unless you’re reeeaaallly into that stuff.) Just beer and chatting with neighbors.

Clare

We had hoped that David Grasso would be ready to present his plans to develop the Rivage property at Ridge Av. and Calumet St. at the February meeting of the East Falls Community Council’s Zoning Committee.

He has informed us, however, that he is not yet ready. The timing of David’s appearance before the Zoning Committee is determined entirely by him. Once he submits his plans to City officials he’ll tell us when he receives his refusal notice from the Department of Licenses and Inspection and when he is prepared to meet with the community.

We recognize that neighbors must take time away from their lives and families to attend committee events. We appreciate their effort and understand that attendance means arranging child care or leaving work early. Thus, we strive to have a final agenda for Zoning Committee meetings by the end of the first week of each month. Once we have confirmation of appearances, the agenda is finalized and then broadly shared. On occasion news of topics to be discussed and names of presenters is available in advance of the release of the formal agenda. But many steps in the development process are beyond the influence of the Zoning Committee and in spite of our best efforts nothing is certain even once a meeting agenda is released.

William Epstein, President, East Falls Community Council
Todd Baylson, Chair, EFCC Zoning Committee

Carolyn Fillmore

Thanks, guys! And welcome to the comments section. Really appreciate your input — for the 1+ year we’ve been blogging East Falls Local, it’s kinda felt to us like EFCC committees/organizations have been giving us the cold shoulder, and being on the “outside” we tend to run with whatever info we get. We were delighted to see your comment here, and hope that future posts & recaps & stuff will have us chatting and clarifying things out in the open, encouraging community participation in our conversations. Hopefully this’ll stop us all from jumping to conclusions or perpetuating stale tensions. Thanks again.